What happened
The helicopter departed from a heliport situated at an elevation of 950 feet. At the time of departure, the location was operating under visual flight rules (VFR) conditions, with clear skies above a layer of fog. Shortly after liftoff, the aircraft began a descent toward lower terrain.
As the helicopter descended into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), it entered an area of dense fog at an elevation of approximately 350 feet. The aircraft continued its descent and ultimately crashed into a wooded ridge located approximately two nautical miles from the takeoff location. The impact was significant enough to awaken residents living along the flight path, who reported hearing the sound of the aircraft operating at full power just before the crash.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to descend into instrument meteorological conditions without adequate visibility or terrain clearance. The transition from visual conditions at the heliport to dense fog at lower elevations created a hazardous situation that resulted in controlled flight into terrain.